This is my experience working in an orphanage and children's hospital in Iasi, Romania for the summer of 2008.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

July 2, 2008 (Wednesday)The Lord’s Hand In My Life: Marius is going to the United States, and Andrei heard a squeaky toy with the help of his hearing aid!

It was such a great day today. Marius is going to be able to go to the states for plastic surgery! We found out that his brother got custody of him – we were worried because if he didn’t he wouldn’t be able to go to America. Then to add to the great day Andrei was able to hear a loud noise that came from a squeaky toy with the help of his hearing aid. It was so amazing. He was playing with the toy then all of a sudden he held still and put it up to his ear. His eyes looked like he was concentrating so hard. Then he squeaked the toy and went back and forth putting the toy up to each of his ears. Then he was so excited he put the toy up to my ear and squeaked it so I could hear. Then he went around to a bunch of the kids in the room so they could hear it. It absolutely melted me…I’m so excited for him!

Today we were outside with the kids for a while – it was the perfect weather! It felt so nice…I did find out some news I wasn’t happy about. One of the workers told me that Andrei isn’t having surgery until September…I’m sad because I won’t be able to stay with him and visit him in the hospital. As for more sad news, when I was playing with Andrei outside Maria (one of the workers) told me “Andrei is a bad boy. He is naughty.” I was like “nu rau” (not bad). Thank goodness he didn’t understand what they were saying. It made me sad. He does throw little tantrums, but he is a little boy (kids throw tantrums sometimes). That doesn’t mean he is bad. That must be why the workers aren’t as nice to him as they are some of the other kids, and to be honest sometimes I don’t blame him for his tantrums. Today he was outside, and when I wasn’t playing with him they would make him sit on a bench. What three year old would ever sit on a bench while being outside for a couple of hours? Then if he moved they would yell at him. At one point he kept looking at me with the hand motion “come to me” and the worker hit his hand down. So I put one of the kids I had been playing with in their chair because they can’t run around and went over to play with him. I think they don’t like chasing him around the playground…it does take energy, but come on?!

When we were playing outside all the workers were chatting and laughing. Florine walked by and smiled and winked at me. He’s a good guy. Then I was sitting in the swing with Irena a few feet away from the conversation, and all of a sudden all the workers, including Sera, all looked at me. Sera smiled and I just smiled at them all back. I didn’t know what was going on, but I just assumed they were talking about me. Later on I asked him why they all looked at me at one point in the conversation. He said that they told him not to worry about his life because he was surrounded by girls. Then he said that they said “you would look good with her, and she would look good with you.” I was like “oh.” Then I had to go…I don’t need any drama in that department.

When we went inside all the workers and us had fun. We turned on some music and danced with the kids. Andrei is the cutest little dancer. I know he can’t hear well, but he will move and dance as long as we are. Then Lumie (a worker) decided to french braid my hair. Everyone likes to do my hair, but it always hurts when they do. Then she told me that I need to bring two rubber bands tomorrow so she can put my hair in two braids…Yes!

The hospital was great as usual. There is a new little girl named Marchika. She is probably four years old, and she is such a happy little girl. I’m amazed at some of the children’s attitude…They are happy regardless of their circumstances…they set an amazing example to follow.

I saw Alexandra today. The sides of her crib wouldn’t go all the way down so after much debate I hopped in there with her. Annie and I were cracking up. I just sat in her cribs, and we counted cards. It’s amazing how easily children are entertained…It was so fun. I felt like I was having girl chat with her…haha…

It was my night to cook dinner. I made alfredo sauce from a recipe and had broccoli, mushroom pasta. I was so afraid it would turn out terrible. It ended up turning out better than I thought. I’m gaining more confidence about my cooking skills slowly but surely.

Tonight I talked to my best friend Kendall! I was so excited to hear her voice and hear about her wedding! I can’t believe she is married. I just hope our friendship doesn’t change. All the girls here say that when all of their friends get married it’s a whole new ball park…we shallsee... Kendall and I chatted about her new marriage. I asked her if her marriage was what she expected. She said she loves it but that it is a lot of work and quite the learning experience. That’s what most people say. Then I started telling her that I want to find a full/part time job in event planning when I get home. She said that there was a position available on the church Web site…I’m also going to see if Nu Skin has any job openings when I get home as well. I’m sure everything will work out though. Kendall was laughing because she said I’ve planned things my entire life. She was like “do you remember when we were 13 years old and I spent the night at your house for the first time and you had the party completely planned out? You had it planned what time we were going to watch a movie. What time we were going to sing karaoke.” I just laughed. That’s just the way I am – I like to have things planned and organized. When I get home Kendall and I are going to plan a girls’ weekend. I’m excited about that.

1 comment:

I'm excited too!! and our relationship isnt going to change!! Jeff already knows that I will be taking many trips to see you!!!!! I think that we should say that if fiances permit we should get together every other weekend to make up for these four months!!

My Final Goodbye to Andrei...

This is how Andrei decided to pose for our final picture together...haha...my little monkey.

Last day with Andrei...

Right after I said goodbye to Andrei...these were the gifts I left with him.

The Branch!

Around the Orphanage!

Alex's Birthday party!

Andrei, Cristi and Andrea...my little orphan angels...

Sitting outside with Maria in my lap and the other girls and their kiddos...

Alex swimming on his back...

The Light of my LIFE! My ANDREI!

tickle...tickle...

Classic Andrei pose...such a little stinker...

Can't Get Enough of the Babes in the Hospital!

A little bit of heaven...

The most gorgeous eyelashes you've ever seen...

I'm in love...

This is the little baby that would copy my laugh every time I laughed... such a cutie!

The Black Sea Adventure

I'm pretty sure this is the best picture we took on the trip...

Mindy and I...

Whitney S. and I laying out...

The GANG!

Burying Kenz...

Elyse carrying the umbrella on the way to the beach...

Right before the banana boat ride!

Putting our gear on for the Banana Boat ride!

No turning back...

We are off...

Burying Mindy...

Hospital Fun!

Mihai! Our little angel.

Yes there is some pink in my hair...

The poor thing did not feel well at all.

Kristi! One of our kids at the orphanage with cerebral palsy. He had to go to the hospital for some treatments.

Andreiseni...A Little Bit of Heaven on Earth

Time for bed!

Sleeping under the stars...

We love horses oh yes we do!

Our little cup of honey to eat from the bee man.

MacKenzie's belly after our fifth feeding...we all felt that way...

Any more food anyone?

The old man who sat across from us at the ceremony...he was adorable.

Flowers we were given by one of the families.

We're about to be fed...again...

All the houses have grapevines that line the ceiling when you go to enter their homes...

The librarian who kept giving us gifts!

I caught a baby duck! I was so excited!

The family that grows vegetables in the town.

The beauty of the lake...

The bee man!

One of the houses we dropped by. We were warmly welcomed.

Andrei and his foster mom.

The Monasteries...

Our professor Dave came for a visit. We tried to pick him up for a cool picture. It didn't work.

The beauty...

GORGEOUS

A reservation we stopped by...I shared my apple with a baby deer.

Mario our Romanian Liason. She is great!

Annie's 20th Birthday!

Under the pavillion...

Annie holding the necklace I got her from Krakow...

The most disturbing display of dead goats in the park we have ever seen...it was sick...only in Romania.

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

Our jumping picture...good times...

Whitney S. and I hit legs while we were jumping...

The pyramid...

Reenacting Annie's Drawing!

I was trying to make sure their poses were just right...

This was the black and white picture we took in order to reenact the drawing Annie drew...

Color version....

Our Birthday Girl!

Whitney S.

An amazing pic of Mindy...haha...I love it!

JULY 4th! I'm PROUD to be an AMERICAN!

The gang...

My roomies...we're all dressed in red, white and blue!

Picnic time...

Balloon Toss!

I just got a piece of ice down Annie's pants...haha...poor thing...

MacKenzie just got ice down my pants...

Water fun...good times..

This is the face of Elder Armstrong who just had a bag of ice water thrown on him...

Good times at the Hospital!

I put a fake tatoo on Marius...

We couldn't get her bed side to go down all the way - so I jumped in and played with Alexandra - she recently had another surgery...

Auschwitz and the Holocaust...

Entrance to Auschwitz...we didn't take pics inside out of respect for those who died...

Birkenau...a few miles away from Auschwitz...

Housing...if you could call it that...

Drawing done by children in one of the blocks...

Each block had line after line of this type of bedding...each slot fit four to five people to a bed...

The restrooms in each block...

Pond memorial where the ashes were put after the bodies were burned...

Rubble of the crematorium that was blown up by the Nazis to cover up any evidence of their wrong doings...

Krakow, Poland

We had fun building a pyramid in the courtyard of the Wawel Castle...

Medieval Square!

Our sillly side...

We kept getting lost...but we always found our way!

Feeding the birds in Medieval Square...

My blue bike with a horn! I love that little horn...

Can't tell it's a rental bike huh?....

A little rest from bike riding!

We decided to rent bikes for a few hours and ride around Poland...so fun...

We love our ice cream soo...

Running around...

The girls...

A giant head in Medieval Square...

Whitney Scott decided we each needed an individual photo shoot along the Wawel Castle wall...

My FAVORITE CITY! BUDAPEST...

Yes this picture is real...

So gorgeous it takes your breath away...

Parliament Building! GORGEOUS!

We love chocolate crepes oh yes we do!

Monument to Hungarian Jews that died in the Holocaust...

Ironically I ran into Truman Hunt (CEO of Nu Skin) and Scott Schwerdt (President of Americas and Europe at Nu Skin) when I went to church in Budapest...For those of you who don't know I worked at Nu Skin for over a year, and I was treated very well by the company....What a small world.

Shopping on the bridge...sooooo fun!

On our way home...wornout and sunburned...

The most gorgeous waterfall ever...outside the castle...

The city I love!

Heros' circle...

The castle...

Try saying this word five times fast...haha...

Good ol' sleeper trains...

Largest Jewish synagogue in Europe...

We're soo crazy...

Even on vacation church is a good thing to attend...

SCABIES!!!!!!!!

The night we found out we had scabies we had to take a shower, put the ointment on, then sleep in our outfit that we were wearing the next day...then we had to do it all over again the next day...DANG SCABIES...

Annie and I had fun being dramatic in this picture...

Cream to the rescue!

The Hospital...

Marion....can you say adorable!

Marius giving me a kiss on the cheek after a rough game of arm wrestling...

My Orange Hair...

I was feeling a bit nervous...if only I knew what the outcome was going to be...

This was my hair right after I dyed it...it has now faded (thank goodness) back to a golden blonde...yes - everyone have a good laugh...P.S. Mom I need you to set me up a hair appointment for the day I get home...thank you.

Marion's Funeral...

Picnic with the Priest and Mayor

I felt like I was in a fairy tale!

The priest...

The mayor (left) and a friend (right)...

Oh my Claudio!

My Claudio laughing!

Kenz and I at the hospital...

Dinner with the Moldova Boys

The Hospital

Florine our little trickster...

Alexandra...so adorable! She has been in the hospital for months. She has had several surgeries on her feet.

The gang on the 6th floor...

Claudio...the lost little boy on the 7th floor...

Our little Marion from the orphanage...he needs a kidney transplant desperately or he won't make it...

The lovely hospital floors...

Melissa's Birthday!

This is my favorite pic of Melissa...haha...

Picnic Time!

After a long game of Ultimate Frisbee...

Elyse and Mindy...oh the joy.

My friend Sera and I.

I hand sewed this skirt and wore it to church! I was soooo proud of myself!

Annie made a skirt too...we had to take a pic...

Night on the town....

Mamma Mia Steak House

A bunch of people were handing out flowers in an effort to get final votes for some politician...we didn't vote, but we did have fun with the flowers!

The Hospital...continued

Poor thing had the worst fever...

Alexandra and Roxanna...two sisters...so full of energy and love!

Samson...this little boy cries all day for his mom...

Florine our little flirt...he went back home Friday...he will be dearly missed!

My Little Orphan Kids!

MY ANDREI!

Valentina my little vampire...

Maria...she is always full of surprises!

Iulia...

Constantine...

Irina...

Church

Church and our fellow Relief Society Members!

My Roomies!

SCARY!

This is written all over in our apartment building...guys aren't real respectful of women here.

More Babies!

We found more babies without moms to love...they were hiding from us on a floor we never go to...

He kept falling asleep while I was feeding him...

Annie was blowing on the babies neck...there is NO air conditioning in the hospital and they bundle the kids up. Everytime we pick them up they are drenched in sweat...poor things!

THE HOSPITAL

My sweetheart...the poor thing is a boy, and they dressed him in pink.

Poor thing...everytime he coughs her entire face turns purple.

Our little Octavian!

MacKenzie tried asking the nurse this orphans name and they said "he's an orphan he doesn't have one..." We decided this was too sad so we named him Octavian.

This baby was a newborn orphan. So tiny...The poor thing is having heart surgery soon...

I was blowing on her stomach...she got a kick out of it!

Our little angel...except we call her grumpy because sometimes she doesn't like to smile - but when she does she lights up the room!

Florine and I...he's such a little ladies man!

Countryside of Romania

City of Brashov

Brashov

Mindy and I in the town square of Brashov!

At the Hostel!

Mindy got the bottom bunk, and I got the top...so fun!

The ENTIRE gang at the hostel...

We love each other!

Peles Castle

Can you say GORGEOUS?

I look like I'm in pain...

Dracula's Castle

Part of the gang!

Vlad the Impaler's Castle

The Cemetery and the Old Man

The old man...

The PIATA...it's like an underground market place where everyone brings their fresh fruit and vegetables to sell...it's our favorite place to go so far.

THE CITY OF IASI

View Outside Our Window...

Although you don't see a lot of grass in the city...you can tell it's very green here...I can't wait to see the country side!!

These are the apartments in Iasi...buildings like these cover the city...

A gypsy girl came up and asked us for a banana for her baby brother...we gave one to her - but you have to be careful because more will come and beg you for food.

A gypsy family...you see them walking around sometimes...however, they are discriminated against by the Romanians greatly.

Us girls needed some CHOCOLATE...gogosi is amazing here...it's like an inverted donut. We can't eat too much of these though or we are going to come back weighing a thousand pounds.

Cultural Palace continued...

The Cultural Palace...just down the street from where we live...absolutely gorgeous!

The city wasn't designed to have parking spots...so cars park everywhere...including the sidewalks. The drivers are a little crazy. They don't really follow the the driving laws - then again maybe they don't have any?

The rain loves us!

Embrace the RAIN!

Water in my shoe after the first Sunday...nice...

The Last GIRLS' Night!

Aunt Courtney and me....isn't she simply radiant!

My Mom and Aunt Ariane...but she's like my sister...

The COUNTDOWN begins...

My Attempt to Pack...

I think I need to reorganize...or cut back on the amount of clothes I'm taking...

Such a homemaker...these scrubs will be my best friend in Romania!

Toys for the children!

Whitney's Favorite Quotes

"No individual has the right to come into the world or go out of it, without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it." - George Washington Carver

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ~

"The only things in life you regret, are the risks you didn't take."

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank